Folding gate



April 1965 v. BRANCATO ETAL 3,177,926

FOLDING GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 13, 1963 m m w m V/lVCEI/T EPANCA 7'0 J05EP/l MAI/CA 70 Arramsys.

April 13, 1965 v. BRANCATO ETAl.

FOLDING GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13, 1963 INVENTORS VINCENT EPA/M470 JflSEP/l EMA/64m A TfOFI/EYS. v

United States Patent F Filed Mar. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 264,894 7 Claims. (Cl. 160-183) This invention relates to folding gates.

An object of the invention is to provide a folding gate of improved construction in that it is relatively simple and economical to manufacture and is especially simple to operate.

A further object is to provide a gate of the type indicated which is provided with means in which the gate members are nested in their folded position'in a manner such that the folded gate members are hidden from view to further enhance the attractiveness of the gate.

Another object is to provide a folding gate of the type indicated with relatively simple and inexpensive safety means to prevent the folded gate members from falling in the event that a part of the gate operating mechanism fails.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more fully. understood from the following description of the invention considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing of an embodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a folding gate in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional View, on a larger scale, taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional View of part of the gate showing the gate members in an intermediate or partially folded condition;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on a larger scale, taken on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, on a larger scale taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, on a larger scale taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in-detail, the gate 10 includes a rigid frame 12 comprising a horizontal top channel frame member 14, which has its vertical sides 16 and 18 extending downwardly from its horizontal top 20 so that the channel opening 22 is at the bottom of the channel, as best seen in FIG. 2. A pair of laterally spaced vertical side frame members 24 and 26 are suitably secured at their respective upper ends to the adjacent end of top frame member'14 and extend downwardly therefrom. Each side frame member comprises a pair of vertical channels 28 and 30 which are suitably secured to each other along their adjacent sides to form a pair of vertically extending guideways 32 and 34 which are in side-by-side relation and which are separated from each other by a vertical member 36 formed by the joined adjacent sides of the channels. It is to be observed that side frame members 24 and 26 are positioned with respect to each other so that the open ends of the guideways of the members face each other.

Gate closure means 38 is suspended from its top, close to top frame member 14, and has its ends positioned to move up and down in the adjacent guideways of the side frame members to open and close the space formed by the top and side frame members. More particularly, closure means 38 comprises a series of elongated gate members 40 which extend between the side frame members. As shown herein, each of the gate members is of open mesh configuration formed by shaping the round bar stock 42, of which each gate member is made, into the form illustrated by FIG. 1 to provide a pleasing and decorative appearance to the gate closure means. 'Of

ice

course, the gate members need not be of open mesh configuration but can be of other forms as desired or as required.

The upper edge of each gate member is pivotally connected to the adjacent lower edge of the adjacent upper gate member at longitudinally spaced points between the side frame members. More particularly, and as best seen in FIG. 5, a hinge ring 44 is positioned at each of said longitudinally spaced points and encircles the lower bar 42 of the lower edge of the adjacent upper gate member 46 and the upper bar 42 of the upper edge of the adjacent lower gate member 40. The upper part of the ring is preferably welded, as at 46, to the upper part of the lower bar 42 so the adjacent gate members can pivot with respect to each other, whereby they may be folded, in accordion-like fashion, as illustrated by FIG. 3, when the gate closure means 38 is lifted up to open the gate.

The uppermost gate member 40 is secured, as by welding, along longitudinally spaced points, to a horizontal bar 48 which is positioned within top channel 14 and extends longitudinally thereof. The opposite ends of the bar are secured to the upper ends of the adjacent side frame members, and the gate members'are suspended from said bar. The lowermost gate member is secured, as by welding, along longitudinally spaced points, to an angle 50 which extends between the side frame members to provide a finished lowermost edge for the closure means.

The opposite ends of each gate member are each provided with a pair of spaced pins 52 and 54 which extend endwise into adjacent guideways 32 and 34 and are positioned at opposite sides of member 36, as bestseen in FIG. 4, so that pin 52 extends into guideways 32 and pin 54 extends into guideway 34. i

The operating means for the gate includes a manually operated winch 56 which is suitably mounted on side frame member 26 and includes an operating handle 58. The winch is of a well known type which includes an automatically operable brake which is automatically released by operating the handle in either direction to raise or lower the gate closure means. When the handle is not moved, the brakeoperatesautomatically to lock the rotating parts of the winch so they cannot move. The winch also includes a pin 60 which can be removed for releasing the brake Without operating the handle. A winch of the type just described is manufactured and sold by The Fulton Company of Milwaukee 19, Wisconsin, and is identified as No. 254 in their catalog No. 63. Obviously, other types of winches can be provided as well as winches which are motor driven in lieu of manually operated. l

The winch operates a wire cable 62 which passes over pulleys 64 and 66. The pulleys'are suitably mounted for rotation in a channel 68 that extends longitudinally across top frame member 14 to which it is suitably secured. Pulley 64 is positioned at the end of channel 68 above winch 56 and pulley 66 is positioned about midway between the ends of the channel. Of course, if'the gate is very wide, a series of pulleys is to be-provided spaced longitudinally across channel 68 and two or more cables, .62 are to be provided which may be secured to the lowermost gate member at longitudinally spaced points across the gate member. As herein shown, only one cable '62 is provided and the cable passes over pulleys 64 and 66 and is weaved in andout, between the open parts of the gate members, as best illustrated by FIG. 2.

' The end of the cable is secured to the lowermost gate 1 member at its midpoint to lift the latter and thereby fold the gate members on each other, as illustrated by FIG. 3, for lifting the gate closure means 38. The positioning of the pins 52 and 54 of each gate member at opposite sides of member 36 of the side frame members, and the pivotal or hinged connections between the gate members permits the members to be folded up, in accordion-like fashion,

for opening the gate.

A plate 70 is secured to the front of top frame member 14 and extends longitudinally thereof and downwardly therefrom a sufficient distance so that in the folded condition of the gate members, they are not seen sincethey are nested behind plate 70 and above the lower edge 72 thereof.

For additional safety the side frame members can be each provided with a series of vertically spaced through holes 74 in position so that a pin 76, which can be attached to a chain 78, canbe inserted through any one of the holes, as illustrated best by FIG. 6, in the path of downward movement of pins 52 and 54 of the lowermost gate member, in its raised position, to prevent inadvertent or accidental closing of the gate by breaking of the cable or failure of the winch brake.

While we have shown and described the preferred ema bodiment of the invention it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of, parts and in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A folding gate, comprising a frame having laterally spaced vertical side frame members and a horizontal top frame member extending between said side frame members and secured to the latter, foldable closure means secured atits top to said top frame member and extending between said side frame members and downwardly from said top frame member in the unfolded position of said closure means for closing the space between said side frame members, said closure means includingra series of gate members extending horizontally between said side frame members, each gate member having upper and lower edges, means pivotally connecting the upper edge of each gate member to the adjacent lower edge of the adjacent gate member along horizontally spaced points for movement of said gate members relative toeach other into folded and unfolded positions, each. end of each gate member having a pair of horizontal pins extending endwise from the end of the gate member and positioned at opposite sides of the adjacent side frame member, and pulley means secured to the lowermost gate member for operating the latter to move said members into said folded and unfolded positions, said gate members each.

being of open mesh construction, and said pulley means including a cable and a pulley mounted on said top' frame member, said cable extending from said pulley and through the open mesh configuration of said gate members and secured at its end to said lowermost gate member,

2. A folding gate, comprising a frame having laterally spaced vertical side frame members and a horizontal top frame member extending between said side frame members and secured to the latter, foldable closure means secured at its top to said top frame member and extending between said side frame members and downwardly from said top frame member in the unfolded position of said closure means for closing the space between said side frame members, said closure means including a series of gate members extending horizontally between said side frame members, each gate member having upper and lower edges, means pivotally connecting the upper edge of each gate member to the adjacent lower edge ofthe adjacent gate member along horizontally spaced points, for movement of said gate members relative to each other into folded and unfolded positions, each end of each gate member having a pair of horizontal pins extending endwise from the end of the gate member and positioned at opposite sides of the adjacent side frame member, 7

pulley means secured to the lowermost gate member for operating the latter to move said members into said folded and unfolded positions, and a plate extending between said side frame members and downwardly from said top frame member and having a lower edge which terminates substantially above the bottoms of said side frame member, said plate being positioned at one side of said closure means.

3. A folding gate, comprising a frame having laterally spaced vertical side frame members and a horizontal top frame member extending between said side frame members and secured to the latter, each of said side frame members having a pair of horizontally spaced vertical outer sides and an intermediate vertical part spaced from each of said outer sides to form a pair of vertically extending guideways positioned in side-by-side' relation, foldable' closure means secured at its top to said top frame member and extending between said side frame members and downwardly from said top frame member in the unfolded position of said closure means for closing the space between said side frame members, said closure means including a series of gate members extending horizontally between said side' frame members, each gate member having upper and lower edges, means pivotally connecting the upper edge of each gate member to the adjacent lower edge of the adjacent gate member along horizontally spaced points for movement of said gate members relative to each other into folded and unfolded positions, each end of each gate member having a pair of horizontal pins extending endwise from the end of the gate member into the adjacent pair of guideways, one of said pins being positioned in one of said guideways of the adjacent pair of guideways, and the other of said pins being positioned in the other one ofsaid guideways of the adjacent pair of guideways, and pulley means secured to the lowermost gate member for operating the latter to move said members into said folded and unfolded positions, said side frame members each having a series of vertically spaced holes extending therethroughfor receiving a pin to hold said members in a folded position thereof.

4. A folding gate, comprising a frame having spaced vertical side frame members and transverse frame means extending between said side frame members and fixedly secured to the latter, each of said side frame members havinga pair of straight vertically extending, parallel, grooved guideways of uniform width throughout and coextensive With said'sicle frame members and positioned in side-by-siderelation with a longitudinal flange therebetween, foldable closure means'securcd to the upper end of said frame and extendingbetween said side frame members and downwardly therefrom in the unfolded position of said closure means, for closing the space between said side frame members, said closure means including a series of gate members each pivotally connected at upper and lower sides thereof to lowerand upper sides, respectively, of adjacent gate members for movement of said gate members relative to each other into zig-zag folded, and' substantially straightened out unfolded positions, each end of each gate member having a pair of parallel pins disposed inwardly of the upper and lower sides of the gate member and on opposite sides of the middle thereof.

other one of said guideways of the adjacent pair of guide Ways, said guideways each being of a width to permit transverse movement of the companion pin during movement of said gate members into said zig-zag folded position, said gate members in said folded position crossing said guideways and projecting to opposite sides thereof, 5. The combination of claim 4, and the uppermost gate member being pivoted at its upper side to said frame on one side of a plane passing through said flanges of said guideways.

6. The combination of claim 4, and means for causing movement of said gate members and comprising a pulley on said transverse frame means, a cable attached to the lowermost gate member and engaging said pulley, and winch means on said frame to pull on said cable.

7. A folding gate, comprising a frame having laterally spaced vertical side frame members and a horizontal top frame member extending between said side frame members and secured to the latter, foldable closure means secured at its top to said top frame member and extending between said side frame members and downwardly from said top frame member in the unfolded position of said closure means for closing the space between said side frame members, said closure means including a series of gate members extending horizontally between said side frame members and having upper and lower edges, means pivotally connecting the upper edge of each gate memher to the lower edge of the adjacent gate member along horizontally spaced axes for movement of said gate memjecting into the adjacent groove, said gate members in said folded position crossing said guideways and projecting to opposite sides thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,448,218 3/23 Holland 160-201 2,175,323 10/39 Shepard 160-206 2,493,815 1/50 Guilbert 160--206 2,598,861 6/52 Tornietto l133 2,812,528 11/57 Odell l83 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FOLDING GATE, COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING LATERALLY SPACED VERTICAL SIDE FRAME MEMBERS AND A HORIZONTAL TOP FRAME MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS AND SECURED TO THE LATTER, FOLDABLE CLOSURE MEANS SECURED AT ITS TOP TO SAID TOP FRAME MEMBER AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS AND DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID TOP FRAME MEMBER IN THE UNFOLDED POSITION OF SAID CLOSURE MEANS FOR CLOSING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, SAID CLOSURE MEANS INCLUDING A SERIES OF GATE MEMBERS EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY BETWEEN SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, EACH GATE MEMBER HAVING UPPER AND LOWER EDGES, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE UPPER EDGE OF EACH GATE MEMBER TO THE ADJACENT LOWER EDGE OF THE ADJACENT GATE MEMBER ALONG HORIZONTAL SPACED POINTS FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID GATE MEMBERS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER INTO FOLDED AND UNFOLDED POSITIONS, EACH END OF EACH GATE MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF HORIZONTAL PINS EXTENDING ENDWISE FROM THE END OF THE GATE MEMBER AND POSITIONED AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE ADJACENT SIDE FRAME MEMBER, AND PULLEY MEANS SECURED TO THE LOWERMOST GATE MEMBER FOR OPERATING THE LATTER TO MOVE SAID MEMBERS INTO SAID FOLDED AND UNFOLDED POSITIONS, SAID GATE MEMBERS EACH BEING OF OPEN MESH CONSTRUCTION, AND SAID PULLEY MEANS INCLUDING A CABLE AND A PULLEY MOUNTED ON SAID TOP FRAME MEMBER, SAID CABLE EXTENDING FROM SAID PULLEY AND THROUGH THE OPEN MESH CONFIGURATION OF SAID GATE MEMBERS AND SECURED AT ITS END TO SAID LOWERMOST GATE MEMBER. 